Refrigerating apparatus



April 17, 1945. w. L. MORRISON 2,373,905

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS April 17, 1945. w. L. MORRISON REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1944 4 SheetS-Sheeb 2 k, .NN

April 17, 1945 l w. l.y MORRISON 2,373,905 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Fi'led Feb. 191944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 17, 1945. w. L. MORRISON v 2,373,905

REFR:[(ERA'I'ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 4 e Patented `Apr. 17, 19145 i UNITED STATE-S I PATENT OFFICE REFRIGEBATIN G APPARATUS Willard L. Morrison, Lake Forestlll. original application' August z, 1941,- serial No. 405,173,'now Patent No. 2,356,781, dated August 29, 1944. Divided andina-application Febr-n. l ary 19, 1944, serials. 523,011 Y 7 claims, (ci. sz-89') Thisl `invention relatesv to refrigerating apparatus of the type in which foods and other sub' stances are subjected to low temperatures. One purpose is to provide a refrigerating apparatus by means of which very low temperatures may be secured, as low as. for example. -50" F.

' 'I'he invention has fora furtherpurpose to provide an improved assembly vof evaporator and insulation, in which the insulation, and an outer cover thereabout, serves as thev vertical wall of a storage cabinet, the evaporator circum-v -fere'ntially deningthe storage cabinet.

. Another'purpose is to provide an improved assembly, in a refrigerator, Vof evaporator,l insulation and bottom, support. Y

Another purpose is to provide improved insulating means for'a refrigerator evaporator, wherethe evaporator itself/forms the receptacle for the materials to be cooled.

The present application is a ldivision of my application Serial No. 405,173, filed on August 2, 1941, issued as Patent No. 2,356,781, August The invention has 'other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referringto. the drawings: Fig. 1 is a-front view" of one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. l2 is a rear view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with parts removed; Fig. 3 is aview of the passageway through the evaporator, straightened out;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 1; Y Fig. 5 is of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 isl sectional view taken on line 8 9 of A, the constructionherein illustrated there are'two separate freezingunits, I and 2, similar in construction and separated by a space and mounted upon a base i, there being located in the between the freezing units a reiziger-ating a sectional view taken on line 5--5 `material. The freezing unitsnand refrigerating 'apparatus are connected together so as to form Space.

i apparatusv 4. 'I'he freezing unit 2 lhas an outer cylinder 5, preferably of metal. Within this outer cylinder there is a second cylinder 6 of metal. The space 1 between these two cylinders 'contains suitable heat insulating material 9. Within the cylinder 9- is a third cylinder' 9 which is smaller in diameter than the cylinder 6, the two cylinders 9 and 9 being separated by a The cylinders 6 and 9 form the evaporator for the freezing unit. The space between .the cylinders 8 and 9 is divided into a series of sections' which are connected togetherto form a passageway extending back and forthvalong the cylinders longitudinally of the cylinders. 'I'he space 6a between the cylinders 6 and 9 of each unit is closed in any desired manner at its upper and lower ends. As herein shown., the inner cylinder 9 has its upper edge bent outwardly and the upper edge of the cylinder 6 is fastened thereto by welding, or otherwise, so as toform a sealed joint. At the bottom the cylininder 9 is provided with a protecting ring 9b which is either integral therewith or welded or votherwise fastened thereto, and when the pas--l sage forming members are placed in position.

this ring is fastened by welding or'otherwise to the cylinders 9 and 6 so as to form a sealed Joint: and has bent portions 9c. f

The series of sections of the passageway are preferably formed by passageway forming members' separate from the cylinders and inserted-Y in lthe space between them. 'Ihese passageway forming members are shown as cylindrical. The

members I0 extend in one direction beyond the l members II and to the end of the cylinders (Fig. Zi).y The members` II extend beyond the other ends of the members I9 and to the-end of the lcylinders, preferably having their ends fitting in recesses formed by the bent portions 9c. These members are held in position in any desired manner, preferably by welding or soldering at one or more placesr The refrigerating apparatus 4 is mounted upon the same base 9 as the freezing units I and 2. The base 3 is preferably of heat insulating a unitary structure which can be moved from placeA t0 place wherever it is desired to use the device.

Any suitable reiigerating apparatus may be Y used. In the drawings I have illustrated reirigerating apparatus comprising a motor I2- and a compressor Il driven from the motor bythe .belt I4.' Thereis provided. as an attach-v passed before entering the compressor. This gas cooled head comprises the parts I5 and I6 (Fig.

7) mounted upon the top I1 of the compressor.

and are provided with the chambers I8 and I9. The cylinder l2i) of the compressor isconnected with the chamber I9 by the passage 2l, having a check valve 22 at the upper end thereof.

The cylinder 23 of the compressor Ais connected by the passage 24 with the chamber I9 and' is provided with a check valve 25 at the upper end thereof. The gas when compressed by the compressor passes out through the opening 26 to the chamber 21 (Fig. 4) and then passes through pipe 28 and' is then delivered to the top of the condenser 29. The gas then passes from the condenser through pipe 30 into the receiv- `ing tank 3| and thence by the pipe 32 into the receiving tank 33 and thence through the strainer 34 and pipe 35 to the pipes 36 and 31 and is delivered, as the conditions demand,I to

' the two freezing units. The gas passes out of the freezing unit I into the pipe 38 and from the freezing unit 2 into the pipe 3B and then passes by pipe 40 into the chamber i8 (see Fig. 7), and then through this chamber and out through the pipe4I to the'compressor I3.

The refrigerant from the compressor I3 and the receivers 3l and 33 passes to the pipe 35 (Fig. 6), to the cooling unit I, throughl pipe 36 and the expansion valve 42 andthence through the inlet 43 into the passageway between the members .6 and 8 intermediate its ends. Part of the refrigerant passes to the right (Fig. 3) along that portion 44 of this passageway and part of it passes to the left of that portion 45 of the continuous passageway. The two portions of the refrigerant n'ieet'at the outlet 46 and then pass through pipe 41, through the pipes 38, pipe 4I), chamber I8, pipe 4I, into the compressor I3. The portion of the refrigerant passing to the cooling unit 2 passes through the pipe 31 to the expansion valve 48 and then in through the inlet 49 through the passageway between the cylinders 6 and 9 of heating unit 2, entering this passageway near the middle and going in either direction in the same manner as illuscylinders' 5 and 6, near the top thereof, the

sealing partitions 5I.. In the space above these partitions. so as to be easily accessible, are located the expansion valves 42 and 48. Comparably loose insulation is preferably placed in the space around the expansion valves so that they can be easily reached by taking off the cover is provided with a handle 62, by means of which it can be easily removed and replaced.

In the use of the device a certain amount of oil from the compressor gets into the circulatory system for the refrigerant and ordinarily would accumulate in the bottom of the space between cylinders 6 and 9. Some means is provided for removing any such oil or any other liquid reaching the-bottom of the space between the cylinders 6 and 8 of either of the cooling units. As herein'shown, the cooling units are provided at the bottom with the outlets 63, to which are connected pipes 64. These pipes extend up through the heat -insulating material 8 and connect at the top with the pipes 41 which lead to the compressor. The oil or other liquid is drawn up through the pipes 64 and passes into the pipes 41 and is returned to the compressor. 'I'he oil and gas become mixed in the compressor and care has to be taken to insure as much oil being returned to the compressor as leaves it. The mixture of gas and oil, when it leaves the compressor, passes to the condenser where it is converted into a liquid. This liquid mixture then passes to the expansion valve and is there sprayed into the passageway between the cylinders 6 land 9, that is, into the evaporator. -As it passes through the passageway, oil is given up and settles to the bottom of the space between the cylinders 6 and 9. 'Ihe gas passes out into the suction line at 50 and moves at a high velocity. This gas moves rapidly across the upper open end of the pipe '64, producing a suction in the pipe 64 adequate to cause the oil and whatever liquid refrigerant may be mixed with it to be drawn up through the pipe 64 and delivered to the pipe 41, where it becomes mixed with the warm gas in the suction line and is returned to'the compressor. s

Some means is provided for automatically controlling the temperature of each ofthe cooling units. As herein shown, each cooling unit has a bulb connected withthe outer face of the cylinder 6 and having a tube 66 which connects with the associated expansion valve 42 or 48, so that when the temperature is lowered below a predetermined amount, the expansion valve will be closed and when the temperature rises, the

expansion valve will be opened. Any of the usual i pressor. When the temperature rises to a prede- 53 provided for! each unit. Each vcover 53-has, Y

ia portion X54 which ts down over the outside cylinder 5.` The cover `oi! each unit has no heat conducting contact with either of the cylinders 6 or 9 f Each cover is preferably provided with a downwardly projecting ring 55 of heat insulating material which engag s the outer face'of the cylinder 6 .(see Fig. 5). Each unit is provided with a removable `lid 56 which consists of the two separated member` 51 and with heat insulating material 59 between them, the two members being connected with a peripheral member 60 whichV engages a 31e/at insulating member 6I- attached to the cover 53. The lid termined p'oint, the switch is actuated to again connect the motor in circuit and start the compressor in operation. These control devices may be of any of the usual forms for this'prpose.

The bulbs are preferablylocated near the outlet for the refrigerant for each of'the cooling units. The bulb 65 controls the expansion valve asvaoos member 18, which is preferably a rigid insulating member. In the particular construction shown. this insulating member 18 for each cooling unit is cylindrical and projects beyond the cylinders 6 and 9. Attached to the bottom 12 is a centering member 14 which fits into a centering opening 18 in the insulating member. There is also a connecting and .centering device 18 associated with the insulating member 18 of each cooling unit, which may, consist of a pin which projects into the insulating member 18 and into the base 8. The outer cylinder l of each cooling unit surrounds the cylinders 8 and 9v and ing member 18.

The portions of the. base 8 under the 4two cooling runits have a circular or cylindrical contour for the greater part of their length. The cenalso the insulattral portionbetween the two cooling units being narrower and preferably having straight sides, as shown in 4. Th'e outer cylinder l of each cooling unit projects along the cylindrical paril y l 3 desired manner upon the base 3.- -As herein shown, thereis a support 81 which is preferably a sheet of metal bent in the form of a U and having its bottom fastened tol the -base 8, the upper edges being inwardly bent towards each other (Figs. 6 and 7). A supporting member 88 is mounted upon the support 81 and has cushioning members 88, preferably .of rubber, between 'it and the support 81.

The motor l2 -is connected with a supporting member 89, having its shaft mounted in bearings therein. A'I'he supporting member 88 is attached to the supporting member 88 by the fastening devices 8|,there being .cushioning devices 98 in-.-l

terposed between. the supporting members 88 of the base and is fastened thereto bythe fastening devices 11. The portion of the cylinder 5 of each cooling unit which is above the straight central portion of the base preferably ab'uts the top of the base at these points.

The refrigerating unit, which is located between the cooling units, .is,enclosed. There are two side enclosing members 18 and 19 which are attached to the cooling units in any desired manner. As herein shown, there are brackets 88 and 8l attached to the cooling units and the side enclosing members are attached to these brackets by fastening devices 82. 'I'hese side enclosing members are providedlwith Ventilating openings 'which are shown as the louvers :88 and the aperture 84. The cover 85 is secured to the members 18 and 18 by fastening devices 88. In view of the fact that the portion of the base connecting the two cooling unitsis narrower than the diameter of the cooling units, the enclosing members 18 and 18 do not extend out to the widest diameter.

of the cooling units so that if the device is placed departing fromthe spirit of my invention. I,

therefore, wish my description and drawingsvto be taken as-in a/broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic. l The use' and operation of thevinv'ention are as follows:

The present in vention is directed to. the provision of 4an improved refrigerating structure 4which shall be cheap to manufacture and which shall be highly eilieient. Basically, I illustrate a bottom frame or base 8, which is herein shown as extending from end to end-of the device. 'I'he member may be a single unitary element, and

may span the space between the two refrigerating units, as shown in Fig. 6, or it may be lbuilt up of associated and connected parts.

against a wall or the like, the projecting'parts of the cooling units at each side of the enclosing members 18 and y18 will engage the wall, or the like, so as to prevent the enclosing members 18 and 18 from being brought into contact with the wall, or the like, and there will bea space be tween either the enclosing member 18 o'r 19 and the wall, so' that there will be 'ample room forventilation and so that it is impossible to close oil the Ventilating air stream.

. In this construction one of the important fan tures is that the bottoms of the cooling spaces of the cooling units are substantially on the same level as the bottom of the refrlgerating unit, thereby bringing the bottoms er the eenling units very close to the floor. By'thi's arrangement the coolingunits standup by the side of the user so that the user is able toreach down substantially to the bottom of the cooling space in each of the cooling units, the upper edge of the cooling units fitting into the armpit, thereby giving a maximum armpit clearance and still enabling thevuser to reaclidown to the bottom of the cooling spaces.

In this construction wherein there are thetwo cooling umts with the refrigerating unit in be tween them, -the compressor is equidistant from the two cooling units so that the two cooling units get equal treatment from the compressor.

There isv a top enclosing member 88 for the Yrefrlgerating unit connected with the side enclosing members 18 and 18 by the fastening members 8 8. The refrigerating unit is supported in any As an example of the simplicity of 'manufacture of the device herein shown, consider the employment of a base 8. the contour of which conforms generally to the contour of the cylinders 8 and the partitions 18 and 1.8 of Fig. 4. 'On each end of this base the members 18 may be anchored or secured. .Each member 18 may be a relatively .thick disc of a suitable heat insulating material. As .a convenient means for quickly and eine ciently anchoring each member 18 in its proper position on the base 8, I provide a dowel 18 which extends into the upper surface of the member 8 and the. lower surface of the member 18. It will 'be understood that it is a simple matter in the assembly toinsert dowels 18 and to anchor the discs 18 in place. Then thevevapor'ator elements are positioned on the disc 18. The member 14 constitutes a centering projection which enters the aperture 'L5 and holds the evaporator in prop er position during lthe ensuing. work on theunit. The evaporator provides a strong central reinforcement and constitutes, in eifect, the entire frame or .reinforcement or stiflening for the unit.

Its inner and outer walls 8 and 8, with the intervening rods I8 and il. form a substantially rigid upwardly extending central columnfor structural 'A element., Any suitable surface insulation or bond 18 a may be positioned between lthe -members 1 8 and the evaporator unit.- It is important that it does not have heat transmitting characteristics. Surrounding the member 18, the workman can next position a thin outer cylinder 8, which may be of sheet metal or the like, and which is preferably formed to provide a cylinder havinga top and bottom, and which may be slipped aboutV the outer edge of the member 3, as shown, -for example, in Fig. 5. It may be suitably cut away at its lower edge to permit thev intermediate portion of the member 3 to connect the two units. Into the space between the thin cylinder 5 and` the outer wall 6 of the evaporator unit, any suitable insulation is then positioned. A convenient method of insertion is to merely tamp it down from above into said space.

This insulation surrounds the passages which are employed in conducting the refrigerant'. As shown, for example in Figs. 4 and 5, these pas, sages are embedded in and surrounded by theinsulating material 8. When the space between the evaporator and the outer cylinder 5 is filled with insulating material, the outer jacket 5 is firm and the device as a whole is strong and will resist thrust from outside. However, as is clear from Fig. 5, the only frame element in any real sense of the word is the evaporator itself, and it is centered and kept in position, when the device is completed, primarily by the surrounding insulating material. The lower edges of the outer jacket 5 may be screwed or otherwise secured to the base 3. The base 3 also serves to support the comin the space defined by said insulating disc member, said evaporator member and said outer cylinder, inlet and outlet ducts for said evaporator mem ber embedded in said insulating mass, the inner surface of said evaporator member deflning an open-topped storage space, a. removable closure element for said storage space and means for supporting it, when closed, out of contact with said evaporator and at a level above that of the cold air within the evaporator.

3. In a refrigerating device, a base member, a body of insulating material positioned on said base member and ilxed against lateral movement in relation thereto, a cylindrical open-topped evaporator member having a closed bottom sup ported upon said body of insulating material, said evaporator member including inner and cute;- generally concentric walls having therebetween a space for the flow of a volatile refrigerant, a relatively thin outer wall, extending about and contacting the exterior surface of said insulating body, a mass of insulating material in the space defined by said insulating body, said evaporator member and said outer wall, inlet and outlet pressor condenser structure, as shown in Fig. 6,

and connects the two units together.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating device, a base member, an insulating' disc member of substantial vthickness, resting upon the upper surface of said base member, securing means extending from one such member into the other, a cylindrical open-topped evaporator member having a closed bottom rest-v ing upon the upper face of said disc member, securing means extending from one such member into the other, said evaporator member including inner and outer .generally concentric walls having therebetween a space for the ilow of a volatile refrigerant, an outer cylinder having a lower extremity engaging the exterior of said inf. sulating disc member, said outer cylinder being generally concentric with said evaporator member, a mass of insulating material in the space defined by said insulating disc member, said evaporator member and said outer cylinder, inlet and outlet ductsforv said evaporator member embeddedin said insulating mass, the inner surface of said evaporator member defining an open- .topped storagespace, a removable closure element f for said storage space and means for supporting it, when closed, outof contact with said evaporator and at 'a level above that of the cold' air within the evaporator.

2i. In-a refrigeiating device, a base member, an insulating disc member of substantial thickness, resting upon the' upp surface ofsaid base member.,means for securin the disc member in relation to thel base member, a cylindrical opentopped-evaporator member having a closed bot-- tom resting upon the upper face of said disc member, means for securing theevaporator member in relation to the disc membensaid evaporator 'member including inner and outer generally con- `centric walls having therebetween a space for the owof a volatile refrigerant, an outer cylinder having a lower extremity engaging the exterior of said insulating disc member, said outer 'cylinder being generally concentric with said evaporator member, a mass of insulating material ducts for said evaporator member embedded in said insulating mass, the inner surface of said evaporator member circumferentially defining an open-topped storage space, and a removable closure element for said storage space.

4. In a refrigerating device, a basev member having a generally flat upper surface, said base member including a portion having a generally circular exterior periphery, a relatively thick disc of insulating material positioned on said base member and having a circumferential surface in vertical alignment with the outside edge of the portion of the base upon which it rests, means for holding said disc against lateral movement in relation to said base, a cylindrical open-topped evaporator member having a closed bottom supported upon said disc, said evaporator member including inner and outer Y.generally concentric walls having therebetween a space for the ow of a volatile refrigerant, a relatively thin outer wall, extending about and contacting the exterior surfaces of said base member and said disc, a mass of insulating material in the space defined by said disc, said evaporator member and said outer wall, inlet and outlet ducts for said evaporatorv member embedded in said insulating mass, the inner surface of said evaporator member circumferentially defining an iopen--topped storage spaceand a removable cio-sure element for said storage space.

5. In 'a refrigerating device, a base member, a layer of insulating material positioned on said base member, a cylindricalopen-topped evaporator member having a closed bottom supported upon said'insulating material, said evaporator member including inner and outer generally concentric walls having therebetween a space for the flow of a volatile refrigerant, a relatively thin outer wall extending about and contacting the 'exterior surface of said insulating material, a

mass of relatively loose `insulating material conned in the space between said evaporator member and said outer Wall, and inlet and outlet ducts for said evaporratonmember embedded in said loose insulating materialf 6. In a refrigerating device, a base member, a

relatively thick disc of insulating materialmounted at each end of the base member, the base member being of sufilcient length, in relaf.

tion to the diameter of the disc members, to leave afree space between the two disc members, an

said evaporator embedded-in said insulating mal0 terial.

7. The structure oi claim 6, including a base member having opposite rounded ends the edges o! which are vertically aligned with the edges oi the thick discs, the outer wall'surrounding each evaporator extending downwardly about and l 'abutting against and being secured to the rounded end edges of the base member.

WILLARD L. MORRISON. 

